How To Kill And Get Rid Of Mosquitoes

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The Anopheles Quadrimaculatus mosquitoes are historically the most important vector to transmit malaria in the eastern United States. Malaria was a critical disease plague for centuries in the United States until it was finally eliminated in the 1950s. Despite the elimination, the CDC has warned that there is still a risk of reintroduction to this disease and occasional cases of local transmission has been found in the eastern U.S. by the Anopheles Quadrimaculatus mosquito as well as in the west by the Anophele freeborni mosquito.

These mosquitoes are best renowned and recognized at rest with their abdomen up in the air instead of parellel to their resting surface like most species.They also have long palps equal in length to the proboscis. They are very dark and covered in dark brown or black hairs. They also have dark scales on their wings with patches of scales forming four darker spots on the wing.

Immediately after the mosquitoes come out of the pupal stage, the males will form into a large swarm and the females fly into the swam to mate. Males usually live for only a week eating nectar and other types of sugar. The female, on the other hand, will feed on sugar, however, they need a blood meal (either humans or cattle) in order to develop eggs. Once the eggs have matured, she lays them and the cycle resumes. Females are able to live up to a month but usually don't live more than 1-2 weeks, depending on temperature and their ability to obtain a blood meal.

The first three stages--egg, larva, pupa--are aquatic and can last anywhere from five to 14 days, depending on environmental temperature. Adult females are able to live for more than a month in captivity, however, in nature they may not last more than two weeks. These mosquitoes are more active during the summer and develop more at a slower pace in the winter. Blood-feeding starts in the spring and decreases in the fall, ending by November. Their feeding most often occurs at night.

Medically speaking, this is the most important species that transmits malaria in the eastern United States. Even though malaria has not been a real threat in years, local tranmission has been known to occur on occasion. In 2005 eight cases of malaria were reported in Palm Beach County, FL. The known outbreaks shared these common features: 1) no known risk factors were found with the first case, 2) closeness to anyone with the blood parisite, 3) the existence of the familiar mosquito vectors, and 4) favorable environmental conditions to complete the malaria germ in the mosquito.

It is doubtful malaria will become the major problem it was in earlier years. With technology, the internet, the United States' public health infrastructure and the short life-span of the vector, we are more able to prevent it's reintroduction through immediate recognition, notification and treatment of cases, vector observation and control.

In addition to malaria, the quadrimaculatus was found to be highly susceptible to infection and quite capable of transmitting dog heart worm (Dirofilaria immitis), as well as eastern equine encephalitis (EEE)with a 38% dissemination rate.

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Culex Pipiens are the most broadly scattered mosquito in the world. It is located on every continent except Antarctica. The Culex Pipiens is known for carrying a variety of diseases, mostly insect-borne diseases.

Culex eggs are usually laid either singly or in rafts. Though they might stick to the surface, they could also sink if the water is agitated. These mosquitoes favor tainted water of organic matter that assists in the development of the larvae and tends to grow well in septic tanks.

Disease is spread only by females. Males do not bite. The females take blood meals that are used to support the development of eggs. Culex takes its meals from animals as well as humans and they also frequently feed on birds. Any disease carried by Culex can become quite difficult to destroy because any of the animal communities they feed on can easily become a repository. Migratory species, like birds, can spread the disease through a large area. We saw this in the Eastern United States in 1999 when West Nile virus was introduced in this area. Culex pipiens feeds at night.

The Culex mosquito favors feeding in and around structures, then retires in cool damp areas within the same structure while they digest their meal. A blood meal usually takes anywhere from 2-7 days to digest. They need to have at least 1-3 meals to complete the growth of their eggs. When the mosquito repeatedly pierces the skin, the injected saliva acts as an anticoagulant.

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Culex Quinquefasciatus, also known as the southern house mosquito, is an average-sized brown mosquito and considered the principal vector of many arborviral diseases in the Southern United States, West Nile virus the most critical, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEv). This virus' numbers increase in bird and then infects mosquitos that feed on birds in the spring. Then the mosquito may transmit the virus to humans. St. Louis encephalitis is age-dependent, afffecting older humans more than the young. Symptoms might resemble the flu and can range from fever and headaches to stifness and confusion. After several days the brain may begin to swell, followed by one or all of the following: depression, extreme excitement, sleepiness or sleeplessness.

This species is known for it's powerful wings and is seen all over India anywhere humans dwell. Their circulation increased as India's rapid urbanization and industrialization took off without acceptable drainage facilities to keep these mosquitoes at bay. Adult females tend to enjoy feeding on birds, but as they age, they favor human blood. They will enter homes in the early evening, but midnight is their optimum feeding time. Human legs below the knees is their primary feeding site. You might find these mosquitoes during the day as they'll be resting indoors on walls, underneath furniture, hanging on clothes in dark corners, in closets, wardrobes or cupboards.

The Culex Quinquefasciatus breeds extensively where dirty water accumulates including brackish drains, cesspools, septic tanks with leakage, burrow pits, and almost all organic polluted water collections. In optimum temperature and humidity, this mosquitoes' life cycle will be completed in seven days, progressing through the egg, larva, pupa and adult stages.

Since these mosquitoes are dependent upon us--humans--for creating their nutrient-rich aquatic habitats, it is vital that we reduce or eliminate althogether these aquatic environments. How? Home: Stop overwatering plants, changing pet water dishes frequently, changing bird bath water at least once a week, removing unnecessary containers holding water, and keep your ponds stocked with mosquito fish. Containers holding water that cannot be removed should be covered or turned upside down, remove old tires, and keep drainage ditches clear of debris that will obstruct the flow of water.

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Culex Tarsalis is acknowledged for it's role as an agent for Western Equine encephalitis. Most Culex Tarsalis have dark bodies, a medium-sized noticeable white band on its beak and white bands on the legs. They also have a white stripe on the sides of their rear legs and dark inverted V's underneath their blunt-tipped abdomen. Males tend the resemble the females only the males have bushy antennae and long "claspers" on the tip of their abdomen. The Tarsalis is considered the most widespread mosquito species in California but can also be observed from Canada down to Mexico as well as in the Western, Central and Southwestern United States.

Female Culex Tarsalis quite often lay 150-200 eggs in clusters in clear, standing water sources and this stage can last up to two days. Stage two, is when the eggs hatch (wigglers), then feed on small organic particles in the water. Typically, they will hang from the water surface by the tip of their tail when they feed. This stage will last up to 10 days. At stage three, the lara molts into an aquatic pupa (tumbler). This is the resting stage of the mosquitoe's life and will last up to two days. Stage 4 is becoming an adult, which depend upon the temperature and food in the water. This developmental stage can take anywhere from seven days to almost four weeks, depending on temperature and food availability. Larvae and pupae live in the water and emerge as adults into the air..

Disease is spread only by females. Males do not bite. The females take blood meals that are used to support the development of eggs. Culex takes its meals from animals as well as humans and they also frequently feed on birds. Any disease carried by Culex can become quite difficult to destroy because any of the animal communities they feed on can easily become a repository. Migratory species, like birds, can spread the disease through a large area. We saw this in the Eastern United States in 1999 when West Nile virus was introduced in this area.

The Culex mosquito favors feeding in and around structures, then retires in cool damp areas within the same structure while they digest their meal. A blood meal usually takes anywhere from 2-7 days to digest. They need to have at least 1-3 meals to complete the growth of their eggs. When the mosquito repeatedly pierces the skin, the injected saliva acts as an anticoagulant.

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Mansonia Dyari mosquitoes are one of the most important species that utlize aquatic plants as their primary habitat for egg deposition and larval development. These mosquitoes tend to attach themselves to root structures of aquatic plants that float. Once disturbed, the larvae release and fall to the bottom.

Mansonia dyari do not have dark "spiniform" scales on the dorso-posterior edge of the abdominal segment VII as seen on many mosquitoes, however, they do have a distinch patch of white scales on the ventral surface of the proboscis. The "club shape" of the palps is another way of identifying this mosquito.

Mansonia dyari are often found near water lettuce plans in abandoned aquaculture ponds. Egg masses are found on both the upper and under surfaces of the leaves. Upper-surface masses are most often from Mansonia dyari, but the lower-surface masses are attributed to both Mansonia dyari and Mansonia titillans.

Oviposition (egg deposits) vary by season but masses are most numerous between August and December when the lettuce plant leaves are large and crowded. Egg masses are then clustered on plants and leaves at angles of 28-34 degrees from horizontal. The upper-surface egg masses are mostly out of the water but focused close to a wet-dry stain line on the leaf. The lower-surface masses are underwater within 3mm of the leaf edge. By the time of hatching, the leaf has aged which cause submergence of most of the upper-surface eggs.

Common to Florida, the Mansonia Dyari was substantiated for the first time in Baldwin County, Alabama in 2011. The A light trap stakeout of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced female specimens that were secured in two different locations in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. This is a first for this species as they usually do not expand this far west.

The Mansonia species have been known to carry Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus in Florida as well as Filariasis or Elephantiasis, the disease of underdeveloped regions found in South America, Central Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean. Mansonia dyari is also one of the likely candidates to carry the St. Louis Encephalitis virus.